Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-28

sulliedl The light dust that settled so swiftly
upon fresh souls imported to the French cap
ital appalled, me, and Bonnetheau said of it:
''Call it a dynamical phenomenon, moral
evolution, superinduced byn- with laugh
and backHinging of his head, ''le Diabler'
who, to judge from his conversation, was
familiar of Hippolytes.
Some weeks after the foregoing occur
rences, and perhaps fortnight later than
our skirmish in the Sorbonne, Bonnetheau
sat in our apartment constructing and de-
molishing houses of cards. had observed
these bits of pasteboard and surmised the
advent of some such extreme for an evening
at ecarte. But soon an order for carriage
conveyed his intention of going out
"Whither to-nighth l inquired, cycling
rather gloomily the edge of a coat that did
not go into company.
1.-The course of destiny runs straight to the
Faubourg St Honore," he replied; and it
was trying element of Hippolyte's remarks
that they were invariably good natured. My
polemical mind had no chance with him
1.-THE Faubourg st. Honorel" l exclaimed.
He nodded, smiling and stacking his cards.
THAT is the residence of Choisy," declared
Precisely. What discelnment you have,
Hendrix, and of his ward also.n
why are you going there tonight" de-
manded
ITO teach mamselle the mysteries Of
ecarte, my child. shall set up-let me see,
what shall set ups 1t must be something
trifiing. For good manners suggest that l
lose the first game. You will say, there is
nothing so trifling as the heart of Bonnie
theau. Bien, let it be my heart. Then, for
the second game, l shall exact a similar stake
from her, which l shall make it point to
win As for the rubber, the second stake
must be repeated. Enfin, the game shall be
minen
'You had best buy a prie-Dieu for mann
selle, and send it to her with your compli-
ments and the petition that she offer prayer
for you upon it." This observed as tossed
his cards into the open fire.
He reflected: Ebony standard, 100 francs;
blue velvet cushion to same-or pink2 Which,
my friend is more inspiring to the kneei
Parbleu! Blues her favorite color. Blue
velvet cushion to same, fifty francs. Protest
ant Bible bound in ivory-ciel, how the ac-
cessories count up! And, after all, she would
pray that l become Christian, and, pro-
vided the prayer were answered-ah, insup-
portable! No more Chambertin, no Mabille,
| no Julie, no little turns at rouge ct noir-
think of it! To entail such misery upon my
| fellowmenl The wine merchants would fail;
Mabille would lose caste; Julie would cry her
| eyes out; the clubs would lose their most
| cherished habitue Tempt me not, Hendrix,
tempt me mott" He made pretty gesture of
| entreaty. 1.-THE world claims my services.
| Au revoirn
There was much calling of carriages and
dispatching of flowers in these days, which
led me to believe Bonnetheau was making
himself especially agreeable in some direc-
ton. 1t required no discrimination on my
part to locate the object in the Faubourg St
| Honore, and | resolved to discover to what
extent Miss Whipple was being deceived.
Choisy had opened his doors to me, merely
on social crack, to be sure, but sufficient To
allow me to push through upon occasion.
This now determined to do.
"Hippolyte, my friend" said l, one morn.
ing, ''hast thou a coat to lend that is genteel
Us to buttons, and not shabby in the matter
of sleeves As thou art an amiable fellow
lend it TO me, for propose to make morn
ing CALI
He broke off his little song OF ''Que lie joul
me dure" abruptly, and there was spark Of
anger in his eyes as he replied: Truly,
do believe you are in favor at court, or yor
would never thou me SO. 1t is a sign Of sur
passing humor in YOU After what manner
has your divinity blessed your
"After the manner of women in general
by ignoring me, sweetly and absolutely.
Still he did not remove his eyes from me
eyes mournful enough in those days
"Your nose is not Grecian," he remarked
presently.
$50 have been told"
Nor your brow classic
"Of that, too, l have been informed"
FINALLY, you have an ugly mouth"
"The Lord made me- protested
$50 you believe" said Hippolyte "An
yet, though you are not first cousin to Apollo
you are outstripping me in q race that l ha
set my heart upon. All, it Is you earnest fe
lows who win the prizes Of life Moi, l 60
the ashes" He passed q hand across his eye
and leaned his head upon his hand 10 heiI
, less, chldlike way he had Take my ply
: factory, broad, as I choose them. Go, al
may all that is good attend you"
As | closed the door the clinls of glass al
| hCNoAtGi LILO NDnlltl LUH
should find Hippolyte on my return. ma
, my way towards the Faubourg St Homo
with some misgivings but resolved to S
Miss Whipple and warn her against her b
guiding foe.
was ushered into very somber and ma
niticent apartment, neutral in tints Of fu
nishing, and breathing antiquity and gloor
The mantel was high, and black and carve
thanked by tall urns, funereal enough in 6
pect to have contained the ashes of all Il
Choisys. The folds of the portieres broug
to my mind those spongy forests of Hugo
: which, upon the slightest pressure, express
bloodthirsty villains. There was gloom, to
in the sullen looking CRATE, whence the ash
had not been removed, and in the very pa
> queterie and walls, dim with submerg
frescoing, SO that the CHATTER of small lres
= on the stairs came cheerfully TO announ
Miss Whipple.
She entered, dressed in the palest Of azu
/. gowns, family laced with silver. Her Ion
fair hair, tied with bit of ribbon, was gat
cred at her neck, and fell again loosely in
: shower below her waist. 1t was surprisi1
I. how the room took on color and tone at
- advent The curtains were shaken out, al
|
= had heap of anthracite in the CRATE, whit
reflected its ruddiness In mirrors and polish
floors. Birds burst into song from undisco
cred corners, and an odor Of Indian perfum
! hoated from Miss Whipple's dress.
: A visiting card, inscribed IN. Hippoly
: Bonnetheau," lay on table, toward viii,
:, she waved her hand.
. your friend, NJ. Bonnetheau, was be
i last evening" she said, smiling. lit was n
> guardian who received him.
'And you did not see himP' inquired
o "I-yes, for a moment, at my guardian
i request
Then you do not approve of himgn
!, She Strengthened herself, with touch
hauteur. He has been misrepresented
- take nothing upon hearsay, m'sieur He b
y a beautiful theory Of religion" she adde
y that of NJ. Comten
"AhI" exclaimed, ironically.
~ Eyes," she continued, land he assures I
= that the principles Of Altruism result in t
% highest good to all who practice them. I
y not doubt it, and yet, it seems to me-do y
= believe that Comte never cared about bel
happyP'
4 No, believe he craved it and sought it,
= his way, as violently as Bonnetheau see
pleasure in his. Only, Comics happins
IT consisted in being the promulgator-he b
A an intense personal calculation in that-oi
a new philosophy, while Bonnetheau's is COZ
prised-well, he has programme of his ow
" But as for Hippolyte's talk on this subject
:, assure you, 1t is all frippery. He does Z